Lady Crusaders advance to title game
The Daily Inter Lake
HELENA - Flathead Valley Home School moved a step closer to capturing its fourth straight Montana Christian Athletic Association state girls' basketball championship on Friday.
The Lady Crusaders, led by Charity Zemke's 21 points, 13 steals, seven rebounds and four assists, defeated Rimrock Christian School of Billings 55-34 in the semifinals.
FVHS (24-2) will play Yellowstone County Home School today at 3 p.m. at Carroll College in the championship game.
Danae Sheeran also had a strong all-around game for FVHS. She finished with 15 points, eight steals and six rebounds.
Jenna Sladek added eight points, six steals and six rebounds.
Rimrock Christian 3 4 13 14 - 34
Flathead Valley 11 17 13 14 - 55
Rimrock Christian - Sharla Steele 8 0-0 16, Kelli Lemke 0 0-1 0, Alyssa Mock 2 0-0 4, Jaclynn Wall 1 1-2 3, Kim Lemke 1 0-0 2, Larae Helms 4 0-0 8. Totals: 16 2-8 34.
FLATHEAD VALLEY HOME SCHOOL - Charity Zemke 8 5-11 21, Jordanna Weimer 1 1-3 3, Danae Sheeran 5 5-8 15, Jenna Sladek 4 0-0 8, Shelby Sladek 3 0-2 6, Hannah Rajkowski 1 0-0 2. Totals: 22 11-24 55.
3-point goals: None; Team fouls: Rimrock 19, Flathead Valley 17: Fouled out: Steele, Tynagh Hoffman, Wall; J. Sladek; Rajkowski.
Yellowstone County 54,
Stillwater Christian 46
Stillwater got off to a great start, but Yellowstone finished stronger.
The Cougars jumped in front 20-6 and led 29-19 at the half. Yellowstone outscored Stillwater 21-5 in the final frame to advance to today's championship game.
Nichole Danz led Stillwater with 10 points. Yellowstone's Ellie Hanson led all scorers with 23 points.
"The girls were hitting everything and played great defense," Stillwater coach Denise Topp said in the early going.
"We struggled with foul trouble, though, and it hurt us. The girls played with a lot of heart. They put it all on the line, but in the end we came up just a little bit short."
Yellowstone went 24-for-38 at the foul line compared to Stillwater's 4-for-7.
Stillwater faces Helena Christian School today at 8:30 a.m. in a loser-out contest.
Stillwater 20 9 12 5 - 46
Yellowstone 6 13 14 21 - 54
Stillwater Christian School - Charli Wells 2 0-0 5, Nichole Danz 4 1-2 10, Abby Smith 4 1-1 9, Dana Topp 2 0-0 6, Lindsey Vander Ark 1 2-2 4, Linnea Hashley 1 0-0 2, Amanda Nichols 4 0-0 8, Julia Bray 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 4-7 46.
Yellowstone County Home School - Terah Lund 1 5-12 7, Allisa Shcultz 3 5-6 11, Bethany Flohr 0 4-6 4, Britany Tutt 2 1-2 7, Amanda Little 1 0-0 2, Ellie Hanson 7 9-12 23. Totals: 14 24-38 54.
3-point goals: Topp (2), Wells, Danz; Team fouls: Stillwater 28, Yellowstone 13; Fouled out: Topp, Smith.
BOYS
Flathead Valley 66,
Stillwater Christian 61
Will Heffernan scored 28 points and Shawn Callan added 18 to help lead Flathead Valley in upsetting the team that beat it twice during the regular season.
"They beat us twice during the regular season by 20 points," FVHS coach Don Ehlers said. "So this was quite the undertaking."
Stillwater Christian committed 32 fouls, yet Flathead Valley went just 3-for-11 from the free-throw line in the final frame.
"It was a miracle we won," Ehlers said.
Six-foot-3 sophomore Nathan Wagner nearly notched a triple-double in the victory. He had seven points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks.
Flathead Valley improved to 3-24 with the victory.
Stillwater was paced by Zach George's 21 points.
FVHS plays Yellowstone County Home School today at 10 a.m.
Stillwater 15 12 20 14 - 66
Flathead 11 25 18 12 - 61
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN - Jeremy Curtis 2 1-1 5, Ryan Thompson 1 0-1 2, Jake Meerkatz 1 0-0 2, Logan Ward 4 0-0 10, Zach George 8 5-12 21, Tim Butterfield 0 1-2 1, Josh LeGassey 6 0-4 12, Jon Harrel 4 0-0 8. Totals: 26 7-20 61.
FLATHEAD VALLEY HOME SCHOOL - Will Heffernan 9 10-15 28, Isaac Rajkowski 0 2-4 2, Shawn Callan 5 6-12 18, Jace Voightlander 2 0-0 4, Nathan Wagner 2 3-5 7, Logan Ehlers 3 1-1 7. Totals 21 22-37 66.
3-point goals: Ward (2), Callan (2); Team fouls: SCS 28, FVHS 17; Fouled out: Thompson, Butterfield, LeGasse; Heffernan. Techinical foul: Heffernan.